Pele
Legendary Brazilian footballer, Pele, has
filed a $30,000,000 lawsuit against tech giant Samsung for
illegally using his image and likeness in a newspaper ad, by
employing a look alike. Upon looking at the photo in the ad
that ran in the New York Times, you immediately think it is
Pele. This is made more apparent by the fact it is a
football ad.
Samsung football ad deceives people
into thinking that's football legend Pele and he has
endorsed their product
Samsung was in negotiations with Pele to use
his image in 2013, but the deal broke down. Pele's lawsuit
reveals Samsung, "never obtained the right to use Pele's
identity in any manner or format." It is unlawful to use
someone's image as a means of misleading the public into
thinking they have endorsed your product or event.
STORY SOURCE
Pele: Soccer legend files $30m lawsuit
against Samsung for 'improperly using his image'
The advertisment appeared in the
'New York Times' last year
Tuesday 29 March 2016 - He was the man who
made the beautiful game even more beautiful. Now, the
Brazilian soccer legend Pele is suing Samsung, claiming that
the electronics firm improperly used his identity. The
lawsuit has been filed by the former soccer star’s lawyer,
Fred Sperling, and alleges that the firm used a Pele
look-alike in an October advertisement for televisions in
the New York Times newspaper.
While the advertisement did not name the
75-year-old, the elderly black man featured in “very closely
resembles” Pele, the lawsuit says. The lawsuit says the ad
will confuse consumers and hurt the value of his endorsement
rights. It seeks $30m in damages, the Associated Press
added. Pele has endorsement deals with other companies,
including Volkswagen, Subway, Emirates and Procter and
Gamble.
The lawsuit says the ad appeared after
Samsung broke off negotiations to use Pele’s image in 2013.
Specifically, the lawsuit said the South Korean firm pulled
out of negotiations at the last minute “and never obtained
the right to use Pele's identity in any manner or in any
format”...
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